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  • Mesmerism and the Rise of Mental Healing: A Hidden Influence
  • The History of Concentration and Visualization in New Thought Practice
  • The New Thought Magazine: A Century of Spiritual Journalism
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  • Yogi Ramacharaka: How William Walker Atkinson Introduced Eastern Philosophy to New Thought

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Mind Cure

William James and New Thought: The Psychology of Healthy-Mindedness

October 21, 2026 | Ideas & Concepts | George Kerr

William James’s concept of healthy-mindedness, developed in The Varieties of Religious Experience, both described and legitimized the New Thought movement’s optimism and focus on happiness. This article explores James’s engagement with mind-cure, his psychological analysis, and the lasting impact on New Thought and positive psychology.

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What Was the ‘Science of Health’? Quimby’s Alternative to 19th-Century Medicine

October 11, 2026 | Ideas & Concepts | George Kerr

Phineas Parkhurst Quimby’s ‘Science of Health’ challenged 19th-century medicine by asserting that disease originates in false beliefs and that healing comes through correcting the mind. This article traces its origins, key teachings, and profound influence on the New Thought movement.

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William James and the New Thought Movement: A Philosophical Exchange

October 6, 2026 | Ideas & Concepts | George Kerr

Explore the profound intellectual dialogue between William James, the father of American psychology, and the New Thought movement, a spiritual healing tradition that shaped modern self-help culture. This article traces James’s engagement with mind-cure, his philosophical assessments, and the lasting impact of this exchange on both psychology and spirituality.

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Quimby’s Concept of ‘Error’ and the Foundation of New Thought Metaphysics

October 2, 2026 | Ideas & Concepts | George Kerr

Phineas Quimby’s revolutionary idea that false beliefs cause disease laid the foundation for New Thought metaphysics, shaping a movement that would transform American spirituality.

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New Thought, Positive Thinking, and the Self-Help Movement

New Thought, Positive Thinking, and the Self-Help Movement

September 19, 2026 | Movements & Organizations | George Kerr

The New Thought movement, a 19th-century American metaphysical tradition, emphasized the power of the mind in healing and personal success. Its ideas evolved into the modern positive thinking industry and profoundly influenced contemporary self-help culture.

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Women and the Rise of the New Thought Movement

September 19, 2026 | New Thought History | George Kerr

The New Thought movement, a late 19th-century spiritual and metaphysical movement, was largely led by and for women. This article explores how women shaped its teachings, institutions, and legacy, and how it intersected with feminism and ideas of sexual purity.

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What Is New Thought? History, Beliefs, and Origins

September 19, 2026 | Movements & Organizations | George Kerr

New Thought is a 19th-century American mind-healing movement emphasizing the power of thought and belief to shape health, prosperity, and well-being. Rooted in metaphysical idealism, it has influenced modern self-help culture and remains active through groups like the International New Thought Alliance.

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Transcendentalism and New Thought: The Metaphysical Connection

September 19, 2026 | New Thought History | George Kerr

Explore the intellectual and spiritual lineage connecting Transcendentalism and New Thought, from Emerson’s idealism to Quimby’s healing methods, shaping a metaphysical religious movement.

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What Was the Mind Cure Movement?

September 19, 2026 | New Thought History | George Kerr

The Mind Cure movement was a late 19th-century American healing movement that used metaphysical mind-over-matter techniques to treat illness. It emerged from mesmerism and metaphysical philosophies, shaped early psychotherapy, and birthed the New Thought movement.

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William Walker Atkinson: The Prolific Pen of New Thought

September 19, 2026 | People | George Kerr

William Walker Atkinson was an American attorney who became one of the most prolific and influential writers in the New Thought movement, authoring over a hundred books under multiple pseudonyms. His work shaped modern self-help, yoga, and prosperity teachings, leaving a lasting legacy in metaphysical literature.

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People, Ideas, and Movements That Shaped New Thought

Recent Articles

  • Mesmerism and the Rise of Mental Healing: A Hidden Influence
  • The History of Concentration and Visualization in New Thought Practice
  • The New Thought Magazine: A Century of Spiritual Journalism
  • The History of Divine Science: From Malinda Cramer to a Global Movement
  • Yogi Ramacharaka: How William Walker Atkinson Introduced Eastern Philosophy to New Thought
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